Keep big downloads and uploads going when your Mac's screen turns off

Why it happens

To save power, your Mac goes to sleep soon after the screen turns off, and a sleeping Mac stops most network work. That's why a big game download, a cloud backup or an upload can pause halfway through the night. This setting lets the screen turn off while the Mac itself stays awake, but only while it's plugged in.

How to fix it

1. Plug your MacBook into its power adapter. The setting only works on mains power, so the battery isn't drained overnight.

2. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Battery in the sidebar, then click Options… near the bottom. Turn on Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off, and click Done.

   Battery›Options…›Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off

3. Leave the lid open. Closing a MacBook's lid still puts it to sleep, unless it's connected to an external display, keyboard and power.

4. Start your download, let the screen go dark as normal, and check in the morning that it finished.

Still not fixed?

1. On an iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio or Mac Pro there's no Battery page. Open Energy instead and turn on Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off.

   Energy›Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off

2. If the download still stops, check that Low Power Mode is off while it runs, since it can slow or pause background work.

   Battery›Low Power Mode

3. If you also want to watch progress, give the screen longer before it turns off. In Lock Screen, set Turn display off on power adapter when inactive to a longer time.

   Lock Screen

4. Some apps pause their own downloads when you log out or when the Mac is idle. Look in that app's settings for an option to keep downloading, and stay logged in.

5. If your Mac still goes to sleep with the setting on and the lid open, restart it and try again. If it keeps happening, contact Apple Support.